Lake Baikal, the world’s oldest and deepest lake, is being threatened by an impending decision to reopen the Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill. On October 2, 2008, the infamous mill was temporarily closed after the Russian government demanded that the mill convert to a closed-cycle system to protect Lake Baikal from pollution. The mill polluted Lake Baikal for more than 40 years, discharging some of the most dangerous chemicals—chlorine and associated dioxin byproducts—directly into the lake. Lake Baikal contains one-fifth of the planet’s fresh water and is home to over 1600 endemic species of plants and animals.
After temporarily closing the plant, Continental Management used unemployment rates in the town of Baikalsk to blackmail the Russian government, demanding a pollution waiver by February 10, 2009, to allow the mill to continue operating with an open-cycle system and to pollute Lake Baikal. Continental Management is a subsidiary of Basic Element, which is run by oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Local organizations fear the government will bow to Continental Management’s wishes, reopening the mill on February 10.
Please sign this petition ask the oligarch Oleg Deripaska, owner of Continental Management and Basic Element, to permanently shut down the mill and to invest in sustainable businesses in Baikalsk!
